Giancarlo Stanton hurts hand as Marlins lose to Dodgers 7-1

Giancarlo Stanton hurts hand as Marlins lose to Dodgers 7-1

STEVEN WINE

Jun. 27, 2015

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins' latest loss had slugger Giancarlo Stanton wincing in pain at the end of the game, raising fears he will be sidelined by a left hand injury.

Stanton grimaced as he swung and missed for strike three Friday night in the ninth inning of the Marlins' 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He underwent X-rays, and with the extent of the injury undetermined, the major league home run and RBI leader was to undergo further evaluation Saturday.

While Stanton took lusty cuts in the ninth, he said the injury occurred earlier in the game.

Stanton's hand appeared swollen, and he said it hurt where he grips the bat. When asked if he's concerned, Stanton said, "My concern will be when I know exactly what's up."

The injury was another blow for a team that lost its fifth straight game. The Marlins' offensive ineptitude reached a new level as they struck out a season-high 16 times, with their final 10 outs by strikeout.

Brett Anderson tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and allowed only one fly ball in seven innings. He had an RBI single, hiking his average this year to .100. Two relievers completed a six-hitter.

Anderson (4-4) allowed the leadoff batter in the first inning to score but was otherwise unscathed.

"My stuff was probably the best overall it has been," Anderson said. "You want to be able to go deep in games and be another Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Hopefully I can continue to give us a chance to win."

Scott Van Slyke, filling in again for the injured Yasiel Puig, hit a two-run homer. Howie Kendrick tied a season high with four hits, and Jimmy Rollins had a two-run single.

The Dodgers had a 5-1 lead by the fourth, which made things easier for Anderson.

"It wasn't a laugher," catcher A.J. Ellis said, "but we did have some separation early, which gives us room to work with and makes you attack the zone."

The Dodgers have won three consecutive games on their three-city trip to improve to 15-20 on the road. They have allowed only 10 runs in the past six games.

Marlins manager Dan Jennings called a team meeting before the game to give his players a pep talk, but they again showed little pep, falling a season-worst 15 games under .500 (30-45). They have lost eight of their past nine games, and during that stretch they are batting .201 and have scored 18 runs.

An offensive breakout is unlikely this weekend, with the Marlins facing Kershaw and Greinke in the next two games.

Miami's Dee Gordon, who leads the major leagues in hits, had three singles against his former team. But the Marlins went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and they are batting .105 in those situations in the past nine games.

Anderson, whose groundball percentage is the highest in the majors, didn't allow a fly ball until the sixth inning, and the left-hander helped himself in the third inning by picking two runners off first base. J.T. Realmuto and Gordon were both out 1-3-6 after reaching on singles.

Miami rookie Justin Nicolino (1-1) flopped in the follow-up to his impressive major league debut, when he pitched seven shutout innings to beat the Reds. The left-hander allowed five runs in four innings and departed after throwing only 62 pitches.

"I made more mistakes," he said. "You can't do that up here."

The Marlins' Jarred Cosart, recovered from a bout with vertigo, allowed two runs in four innings in his first outing since May 13, and his first career relief appearance.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Before the game, the Dodgers reinstated RHP Pedro Baez (right pectoral strain) from the DL and optioned LHP Ian Thomas to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Baez struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth. ... LHP Paco Rodriguez (elbow) is expected to come off the DL on Monday. ... Puig was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game because of an open callus on his left hand. He pinch-hit in the eighth and grounded out.